Stackable cable tray

ABSTRACT

A cable tray is provided comprising a housing defining an interior portion, the housing having at least one positioned opening formed therein and also having plural, open ends in communication with the interior portion and the at least one positioned opening for passage of at least one cable therethrough. The housing is adapted to be coupled to at least one external surface, such that at least one of the plural, open ends substantially aligns with at least one open end of a housing of at least one further cable tray.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)to U.S. provisional application No. 60/902,985, filed Feb. 22, 2007, theentire contents of which are incorporated by reference as if fully setforth herein, including Appendices 1-11.

FIELD

Example embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a cablemanagement apparatus, and more particularly, to a stackable cable trayfor rack-mountable electronic equipment that may be attached to arack-mountable chassis. When a plurality of chassis are stacked thecable trays of those chassis align, forming a continuous cable trayalong the stack of chassis.

BACKGROUND

Modular electronic equipment typically is designed to be arranged withinstandard sized racks, frames, and cabinets. Each rack typically includesfirst and second vertical supports that are separated by an opening. Theopening widths of racks tend to be standard sized, as adopted byindustry, manufacturers, and/or governments. In the United States, forexample, telecommunication service providers often use racks havingopening widths of twenty-three (23) inches, whereas telephone companiesin European countries may use racks having opening widths of nineteen(19) inches.

Often, modular electronic equipment is installed in a chassis and thechassis is then mounted within the opening of a rack. In the case ofmodular communication equipment, a chassis may house optical electronicequipment such as transmitters, receivers, intelligent control interfacemodules, power supplies, and the like. A chassis may also house coolingfans or other cooling mechanisms to aid in controlling the operatingtemperature of the equipment modules.

Conventionally, cables are connected directly to the modules in order tocouple the modules to other electronic equipment. The other equipmentmay he located within the same chassis, within another chassis in thesame rack, or elsewhere.

Due to the large number of cables that route to the modules of a chassisthe area of cable connections becomes cluttered with crisscrossingcables that may make it difficult or impossible to isolate and performmaintenance on one or more modules without disrupting the cablingrouting to other modules in the chassis. One typical example of thisoccurs when several chassis are mounted horizontally in a rack, one overanother, forming a vertical stack. In such a configuration cables fromupper disposed chassis are routed in front of lower disposed chassis inthe stack, preventing access to the chassis and equipment behind thecable.

SUMMARY

In one example embodiment of the invention, a cable tray is providedcomprising a housing defining an interior portion, the housing having atleast one positioned opening formed therein and also having plural, openends in communication with the interior portion and the at least onepositioned opening for passage of at least one cable therethrough. Thehousing is adapted to be coupled to at least one external surface, suchthat at least one of the plural, open ends substantially aligns with atleast one open end of a housing of at least one further cable tray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features of the example embodiments of the invention will be morereadily understood from the following detailed description of specificembodiments thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rack mountable chassis that includes astackable fiber tray in accordance with an example embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rack mountable chassis that includes astackable fiber tray according to an example embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of part of the chassis of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a retaining member and base of FIG.3.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a chassis thatincludes a stackable cable tray showing cable routed from the stackablecable tray to individual card modules.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of plural rack-mountable chassis showingcable routing between chassis through stackable cable trays, accordingto an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a rack-mountable chassis like that ofFIG. 1, showing cable routing from the stackable cable tray to modulesand cable routed from modules to outside of the cable tray through anescape passage, according to an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of plural rack-mountable chassis mountedvertically, and showing cable routed between the chassis and throughcable trays, according to an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of plural rack mountable chassis in a rack,according to an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is perspective view of an example embodiment of the inventionthat includes a cable tray and air plenums.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a rack mountable chassis in a rack,having a cable tray, according to an example embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 11 is a detailed view of the example embodiment of the cable trayshown in FIG. 10.

Identically labeled elements appearing in different ones of the figuresrepresent the same components and may not be described separately indetail in the description of each figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terms “vertical” and “vertically,” as used herein, mean extending ina plane substantially perpendicular to a reference surface, such as ahorizontal surface or other reference surface. The term “horizontal” and“horizontally,” as used herein, mean extending in a plane substantiallyparallel to the reference surface.

An example aspect of the invention, relating to a cable tray will now bedescribed, with reference made to FIG. 1. In the example embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1, a cable tray 1000 is shown mounted to at leastone front face or side 1004 of a chassis 1003, and extends along atleast a portion of that front side adjacent to a lateral side 1006 ofthe chassis 1003. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, the cabletray 1000 extends lengthwise perpendicularly to planes in which cardmodule slots 1001 and 1009 extend. Cable tray 1000 can be at least onecomponent that is removably attached to at least one front face or side1004 of the chassis 1003 using a suitable attaching mechanism; however,in an alternate embodiment of the invention, the cable tray 1000 may beintegral or otherwise fixedly attached to the chassis. In other exampleembodiments the cable tray 1000 can be mounted to other parts of thechassis 1003 besides, or in addition to, at least one side 1004. Alsoshown in the example embodiment of the cable tray 1000 in FIG. 1 is acable escape 1002 for routing cables between the card module slots 1001and the exterior of the cable tray 1000. The cable escape 1002 is formedin the illustrated example as a cutout in a lower surface of chassis1003 below cable tray 1000.

The cable tray 1000 is comprised of a housing defining an interiorportion. The cable tray housing has an interior surface and exteriorsurface. While the cross-sections of the housing shown in FIG. 1 haverectilinear interior and exterior surfaces, alternatively, thosesurfaces are not so limited and may also be curvilinear or any otheruniform or non-uniform cross-section throughout the length of the cabletray.

The housing includes a first side 1011, a second side 1010 (not shown inFIG. 1), a base 1013, and a front side 1009. The exterior surface of thehousing includes at least one positioned opening, such as the openingsshown formed in the first surface 1011. These openings are suitablyspaced to at least allow a cable or wire to pass therethrough forrouting to a location in or outside of the chassis 1003, such as to aconnector on a module in the chassis or an external destination. Thecable tray 1000 has a first end opening 1008 and a second end opening1012 for passage of at least one cable therethrough.

A cable tray may also be used in a cable management system that includesa cable ledge 1014 running parallel to the direction of the module slots1001, 1009 and between the cable escape 1002 and the front side orsurface of the chassis below modules 1001. The ledge 1014 may beintegral with the chassis 1003 or may be a separate surface fastened tothe chassis 1003 by a suitable fastener or fastened to the cable tray1000. The ledge 1014 can be useful, for example, to provide a strainrelief for cables and their terminating connectors (not shown) that maybe connected to modules in module slots 1001 and that are routed throughthe cable escape 1002. In such an example, cables (not shown) connectedto modules in module slots 1001 can rest against the top surface of theledge 1014 and be routed through the cable escape 1002, in a mannersimilar to the routing of cables 1503 shown in FIG. 6, for example.

Interior surfaces of the first side 1011, second side 1010, base 1013,and the front side 1009 surround a volume or channel in the interior ofthe tray 1000. This volume or channel is configured to accommodate at:least one cable (not shown) in a path that extends between the first andsecond end openings 1008, 1012. In another example embodiment, thepositioned opening is formed in at least a portion of at least one ofthe sides 1010, 1011, 1009 to permit passage of the cable between theinterior portion of the housing and a location outside the housing.

Cable tray 1000 may be mounted to the front side or face 1004 of thechassis 1003 at the base 1013 using a suitable mounting mechanism,including, but not limited to, a snap fit connection, threadedfasteners, or the like. Alternatively, the cable tray 1000 may bedisposed adjacent front side or face 1004 (or elsewhere) of the chassis1003 by being attached to the side 1006 (or another part) of the chassis1003, using suitable fasteners.

The stackable cable tray may be formed from any suitable materialincluding plastic, metal, composites, rubber, and suitable combinationsof the foregoing.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a chassis 1100 that can be similar to thechassis of FIG. 1, mounted in a rack 1101 via mounting brackets 1104 and1105. FIG. 3 shows a larger-scale version of the chassis 1100, includingthe stackable cable tray 1102 shown in FIG. 2 having a cable escape1103. In this example embodiment a top side 1108 and bottom side 1107 ofthe chassis 1100 include substantially circular cutouts 1106 above andbelow the cable tray 1102. The circular cutouts 1106 facilitate cableroutings through the chassis housing and the cable tray 1102 and allowfor cables from adjacent chassis (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) to passfrom one chassis to another, and to and from separate modules within thechassis. While in the illustrated embodiment the cable tray 1102 isshown as being used in conjunction with a chassis 1100 having circularcutouts 1106, the example embodiments of the invention are not limitedto being used with a chassis having circular cutouts, and in otherexample embodiments, a cable tray (such as tray 1102) can be used withchassis having cutouts of other shapes, or having no cutouts at all.

The cable tray 1102 is comprised of a housing that includes a base 1110connected to at least one cable retaining member 1109 at an attached end1112 (shown also in FIG. 3A) of the member 1109. The cable tray can beformed as a single piece or alternatively can be formed from more thanone separate piece. The cable tray 1100 in FIG. 3 is shown having aplurality of cable retaining members 1109. When a plurality of cableretaining members are included with the cable tray 1102, the cableretaining members may not be of uniform size, as is shown in FIG. 3.Alternatively, in other example embodiments of the cable tray, the cableretaining members can be of uniform size. It can be useful to configurethe cable retaining members to be of non-uniform size, as shown in FIG.3, to further organize cables routed through the cable tray 1102depending on their intended termination position within the chassis 1100across from a corresponding position along the length of the cable tray.For example, in a case where most of the cables passing through thecable tray 1102 terminate at modules of the chassis 1100 to which thecable tray 1102 is attached, it can be useful to further separate androute those terminating cables through the upper end opening of thecable tray 1102 for distribution of cables to the modules in the upperhalf of the chassis 1100 and to route cables through the lower endopening of the cable tray 1102 for distribution of cables to modulesinstalled in the lower half of the chassis 1100. Where fewer cables in abundle of cables terminate at modules in the chassis 1100 positionedcloser to the center of the cable tray 1102, the cable retaining memberpositioned near the center of the cable tray can be configured to have asmaller opening than another retaining member positioned closer to oneof the end openings in order to more securely retain the reduced numberof cables passing through the cable retaining member. Also, thecross-sectional shape of the cable retaining members 1109 shown in FIG.3 is substantially a U-shape. However, alternatively, the cross-sectionsof the retaining members 1109 are not limited to a U-shape and may alsobe curvilinear, or any other uniform or non-uniform cross-sectionthroughout the length of the member 1109, which are fully within thescope of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 3 and in greater cross-sectional detail in FIG. 3A, thecable retaining member has a free end 1111 opposite to the attached end1112, the free end 1111 being spaced apart from the attached end 1112 byan extension portion or surface 1113. While the extension surfaces 1113shown in FIG. 3 have non-uniform lengths, in other embodiments, thelength of the extension surfaces 1113 may be uniform. The free end 1111is also separated from the base 1110 by a predetermined distance forminga gap between the base 1110 and the part of the end 1111 which faces thebase 1110. AL least one portion of the cable retaining member 1109 maybe configured to be flexible so that the gap between the free end 1111and the base 1110 may be enlarged by displacing the free end 1111relative to the base 1110 so that at least one cable (not shown) canpass through the opening formed between the free end 1111 and the base1110. The predetermined distance of the gap is configured to be suitableto prevent a cable to pass through the gap when the free end is notdisplaced. An interior portion 1116 of the cable tray is surrounded atleast in part by a surface of the base 1110 and one or more interiorfacing surfaces of the cable retaining member 1109.

In FIG. 3 a ledge 1107 of the cable tray extends forward from thechassis 1100 to provide a surface that can be used advantageously as asurface upon which cables (not shown) horizontally routed through thecable escape 1103 can rest, thereby, for example, providing strainrelief for such cables connected to locations in the chassis 1100. InFIG. 3 the ledge 1107 is shown as being integrally formed with thechassis 1100. However, in alternative embodiments the ledge can beformed as a single piece used in conjunction with the cable tray 11.02or can be formed integrally with the cable tray 1102 and positioned at adesired location along the length of the cable tray.

By virtue of the cable tray 1102 shown in FIG. 3, at least one cable(not shown) can be routed through the interior portion 1116 and betweenthe interior portion 1116 and desired locations, such as, for example, amodule in the chassis by passing through at least one opening formedbetween adjacent cable retaining members 1109 or between a cableretaining member 1109, side 1108, and the ledge 1107

FIG. 4 shows an example of how cables 1303 are routed to and from achassis 1300 by way of fiber tray 1000, and to and from individual cardmodules 1301, 1302. Of course, that example is not limiting to the scopeof the present invention, and other routings also can be provided. InFIG. 5 horizontally disposed chassis 1400 are mounted on top of oneanother, or “stacked”, such that cable trays 1000 also are “stacked”substantially vertically aligned with each other. Cables 1403 can berouted from one chassis 1400 to at least one other chassis, and betweencard modules 1401, 1402 within the same chassis 1400 or differentchassis 1400, and between card module slot locations and locationsoutside the respective chassis.

FIG. 6 shows cables 1500, 1503 routing to/from outside of the cable tray1000 through the cable tray 1000 and escape passage 1002, respectively.Cable routing through the escape passage 1002 can be useful to conservespace within the cable tray 1000 and to reduce electrical signal noisebetween cables. These reasons are not intended to be limiting to thescope of the invention, and one of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate in view hereof that there may be other uses for routingcables to/from outside the cable tray 1000 in this manner. The locationfor the cable escape passage 1002 can be anywhere along the length ofthe cable tray 1000, such as, for example, adjacent one end of the cabletray 1000, as shown in FIG. 6, or elsewhere.

In another example embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7, twovertically mounted chassis 1600 are shown adjacent to each other. Inthis embodiment individual ones of two chassis extend vertically, andcollectively they are stacked along a horizontal direction. In such anarrangement stackable cable trays 1605, as represented in FIG. 7, extendhorizontally and cables 1606 run at least partially through the cabletrays 1605 and can connect to respective card modules 1601 and/or 1602.Cables can pass out of a cable tray 1605 towards the module connectionat a position along the length of the cable tray 1605 which is directlybelow the module connection. If the cables 1606 were distributed to themodule connections by a vertically oriented cable tray, a possibilitywould exist that cables routed to one module would prevent access toremove or install modules closer to the cable tray. However, by virtueof the arrangement of the stackable cable trays 1605 relative to themodules 1601 depicted in FIG. 7, cables 1606 can be distributed tovertically oriented modules without having cables terminating at onemodule crossing in front of other modules. Also, in FIG. 7, a cableescape passage 1603, like that of FIG. 6, is also formed between the tworepresented cable trays 1605 as shown.

FIG. 8 shows another view of a similar example embodiment as that shownin FIG. 7, wherein chassis 1700 are mounted vertically in a rack 1706.Cable trays 1701 are located between mounting brackets 1703. In thisexample embodiment the cable trays 1701 are substantially horizontallyaligned by virtue of the chassis 1700 being mounted adjacent to eachother in the manner shown.

FIG. 9 shows an example embodiment that includes a cable tray 1804mounted to a front face of each of plural chassis 1800 In an exampleembodiment of the invention, the cable tray 1804 forms a square,rectangular, or tubular shaped channel member having a U-shaped crosssection and a front cover 1821. The tray 1804 has a base (not shown) andtwo projecting sides 1805, 1811 extending from opposite edges of thebase, which can be attached to a face of a chassis 1800. Side 1811 hasone or more openings (not shown) along its length for routing cables1820 to and from card modules 1801, 1802. Side 1805 is shown ascontaining one or more holes although it may be solid instead. The cabletray front cover 1821 can be removable, hingedly connected to side 1805and/or 1811, manually openable, and automatically openable, butalternatively the cover 1821 may be permanently or otherwise removablyconnected to side 1805 and/or 1811. In one example embodiment of thecable tray 1804, the cover 1821 is configured to be hingedly connectedto side 1805 or 1811 and can be held in a closed position against theother respective side 1805 or 1811 using a magnetic closure (not shown).In another example embodiment of the cable tray 1804, the cover 1821 isconfigured to be connected to sides 1805 and 1811 by a snap fit closure.

The cable tray 1804 can be mounted to the front side of the chassis 1800adjacent a second lateral side 1806, and can attach to the chassis 1800with bolts, screws, threaded fasteners, and the like, or via any othersuitable attachment. Because in this example embodiment the cable tray1804 is mounted directly to the chassis 1800, no external cablemanagement apparatus needs to be installed to route cables between cardmodule slot locations in different chassis 1800 of the same rack,between chassis 1800 in different racks, and between card modulelocations within the same chassis 1800. In other embodiments of theinvention, the tray 1804 can be mounted to other parts of the chassis1800 besides side 1806, or more than one tray 1804 can be attached tothe chassis, either at opposite parts of the front side or elsewhere. Instill other embodiments, the cable tray can be removably attached to aselected part of a chassis, so that it can be easily removed. Of course,it should be noted that the cable trays described herein can be used inconjunction with other devices besides chassis as described herein.Indeed, it is within the scope of the invention to employ the cabletrays in any situation where routing of wires, cables, or the like isneeded.

Also shown in FIG. 9 are cable trays 1822, each coupled to an individualchassis 1800 at a location below modules 1802. The cable tray 1822 caninclude at least one finger 1823 extending from a base 1824 throughwhich at least one cable 1825 (shown only in the top of the two chassis1800 shown in FIG. 9) can pass. As shown in FIG. 9, cable tray 1822 isoriented horizontally such that the one end of the cable tray 1822 is incommunication with an end of the cable tray 1804. A space (cable escapepassage) can be formed (as shown in FIG. 9) at the intersection of thecable trays 1822, 1804 to permit the cable 1825 to pass around at leastone of the cables 1820 passing vertically through the cable tray 1804.Cable tray 1822 is positioned at a predetermined angle with respect tothe cable tray 1804, and is shown as being positioned perpendicular tocable tray 1804. While the end of the cable tray 1822 is shown assubstantially intersecting with cable tray 1804 at an end of cable tray1804, in other alternative embodiments, the cable trays 1822 and 1804can intersect at other positions along their lengths. Moreover, whilethe cable tray 1822 is shown constructed with a plurality of fingers ofa certain shape, in other embodiments of cable tray 1822 may beconstructed to include other or different features, including aconstruction like that of cable tray 1804.

Another example embodiment of a cable tray is shown in FIG. 10 and ingreater detail in FIG. 11, where a cable tray is shown used inconjunction with a rack-mounted enclosure, such as a chassis 1200 forhousing electronics. In FIG. 10 a chassis 1200 is attached to a rack1202 with brackets 1205 and 1206. In the illustrated embodiment, a cabletray 1201 is attached to a portion of a front of the chassis 1200, andis positioned adjacent to an interior 1208 of the chassis 1200 that maybe useful to house modular electronic equipment having electricalconnectors located towards the front of the chassis when such equipmentis installed. In FIGS. 10 and 11, the chassis 1200 is configured topermit modules (not shown) to be inserted horizontally therein, suchthat they are positioned transverse to the direction of the cable tray1201. By virtue of this configuration, the connectors (not shown)located horizontally along a front face of a module (also not shown) canbe substantially aligned with at least one opening of the cable tray1201.

In FIG. 11 the cable tray 1201 is shown comprised of a base 1901connected to a first side 1902 and an oppositely facing second side1903, which is hingedly attached to an openable door 1207, shown in anopen position. In FIG. 10, the door 1207 is shown in the closedposition.

The base 1901 has at least one opening 1904 formed therein forattachment of the cable tray 1201 to the front of the chassis 1200 viaan attachment mechanism, such as, for example, a mechanical fastener.The oppositely facing sides 1902 and 1903 are each arranged atpredetermined angles relative to the base 1901, and are shown in FIG. 11perpendicular to the base (although they need not be perpendicular).

The first side 1902 includes at least one projection 1905 having a freeend 1906 extending away from the base 1901 by a predefined distance. Ina case where the first side 1902 contains a plurality of projections1905, as shown in FIG. 11, adjacent projections 1905 are separated fromeach other by a gap 1907 having a height sufficiently large to permit atleast one cable to be inserted therein. The gap 1907 extends between thefree ends 1906 of adjacent projections 1905, and from the ends 1906toward the base 1901. The projections 1905 can be displaceable such thatthe free ends 1906 will deflect relative to an adjacent projection 1905when the free end 1906 is displaced by applying a sufficient force tothe displaced projection 1905.

In FIG. 11 projections 1905 are shown including a first planar portion1908 extending by a first distance from the base 1901 at one end, and asecond planar portion 1909 extending from the other end of the firstportion 1908 by a second distance, the first and second planar portionsbeing arranged at a predefined angle relative to each other, which isshown as ninety degrees (but which may be another angle). In the exampleembodiment shown in FIG. 11, the first distance is substantially thesame as the distance that the second side 1903 extends away from thebase 1901, and the second planar portion 1909 is configured to be incontact with an inner surface 1910 of the door 1207 when the door is inthe closed position. While the projections 1905 and gaps 1907 are shownas being substantially uniform, in other embodiments the projections andgaps need not be uniform.

In FIG. 11, the projection 1905 also includes a third planar portion1911, which is coplanar with the second portion 1909, and which hasends, each of which extends towards another third planar portion 1911located on an adjacent projection 1905. In the illustrated embodimenteach portion 1911 is longer than the corresponding projection 1905 in atleast one direction in the common plane in which they both extend. Thedistance between oppositely facing third planar portions 1911 issufficiently large to permit a cable (not shown) to be insertedtherebetween when at least one of the projections 1905 is deflectedrelative to an adjacent projection 1905 to thereby increase the distancebetween the third portions by a sufficient amount to permit entry of thecable therebetween. When the projections 1905 are not in a deflectedstate, the third planar portions 1911, by virtue of their aforesaidconfiguration, extend into the gap 1907 by a suitable distance to retainany cable (not shown) in the gap. This can be useful to prevent a cablefrom being displaced out of the gap 1907 after being inserted into thegap 1907 when the door 1207 is in an open position.

The gaps 1907 between the projections 1905 may further include a cablecushion 1912 having a slot 1913 that is co-linear with the gap 1907. Thecable cushion 1912 may be made from a material that suitably deflectsand/or conforms around at least one cable when the cable is insertedwithin the slot 1913 of the cushion 1912. The cushion material can besuitable to resist displacement of the cable in one or more directionswhen the cable is within the slot 1913. The slot 1913 of the cablecushion 1912 is positioned with respect to the gap 1907 between theprojections 1905 such that any cable inserted in the gap 1907 is alsoinserted into the slot 1913 of the cushion 1912. The cable cushion 1912can be affixed to an inner surface of the first side 1902 of the cabletray 1201 facing the second side 1903 and can be held in place by anysuitable fastening mechanism, although in other embodiments the cushion1912 can be adhered to another suitable part of the tray 1201.

As shown in FIG. 11, the first side 1902 and second side 1903 extendbetween a predetermined distance above a ledge 1914 to approximately thetop of the interior portion 1208 (FIG, 10) of the chassis. The ledge1914 may be configured to be integral with the cable tray 1201 and canalso be configured as a separate piece used in conjunction with thecable tray 1201, The vertical distance between the ledge 1914 and alower edge of the first and second sides 1902, 1903 forms a cable escapepassage 1915 that permits at least one cable (not shown) to be routed(either through or over) in a direction transverse to cables passingthrough the interior portion of the cable tray 1201. By virtue of thisfeature, modules connected with cables that would otherwise be too largeto route through the cable tray 1201 or that would interfere withcommunication in other cables running through the interior of cable tray1201, can be located near the ledge 1914 to provide the cables attachedthereto access to the cable escape 1915 for routing.

While the ledge 1914 and cable escape passage 1915 are shown as beingpositioned near one end of the cable tray 1201, in another exampleembodiment (not shown) a ledge similar to the ledge 1914 and a cableescape passage similar to the cable escape passage 1915 may be locatedat other positions along the length of the cable tray 1201, in place ofor in addition to the ledge 1914 and cable escape passage 1915. In oneexample embodiment (not shown) where cable tray 1201 is modified toinclude a cable escape passage (e.g., 1915) positioned at a locationother than at an end of the cable tray 1201, a first modified cableescape opening (not shown) can be formed in the first side 1902 of thecable tray 1201 that is suitable in size and shape to permit a desiredcable to pass therethrough. Also, a second modified cable escapeopening, suitable in size and shape to permit the desired cable to passtherethrough can be formed in side 1903 at a location facing themodified cable escape opening. The desired cable can pass through thefirst and second modified cable escape openings in the sides 1902 and1903 and through the interior 1918 of the cable tray 1201 in a directiontransverse to the lengthwise orientation of the cable tray 1201 at aposition other than at an end of the cable tray 1201.

The second side 1903 may include a curved edge 1917 at one end, shown atthe top of the second side 1903. In one example embodiment, the curvededge 1917 has a bend radius configured to provide a strain relief for acable routed between the interior of the cable tray 1201 and a locationoutside of the cable tray 1201 that is located above and substantiallyat an angle away from the chassis 1200.

The door 1207 has a vertical length, that in one example embodiment, isat least as long as the length of the first side 1902, and extends atleast between a plane in which the bottom side of the chassis 1200extends and a plane in which the top side of the chassis 1200 extends.When another chassis 1200 having a cable tray 1201. attached thereto ismounted adjacent to the chassis 1200 shown in FIG. 10, the interiorportions of the adjacent. cable trays 1201 can be aligned.

The door 1207 can be configured to include a magnet 1916 affixed to theinner surface of the door. The magnet 1916 is configured to closeagainst the at least one projection 1909 when the door 1207 is in theclosed position, and where the projection 1909 is made of magneticattracting material. The magnetic force between the door 1207 and firstside 1902 can hold the door 1207 in the closed position. Magnet 1916 canbe configured as a pad or as an adhesive-backed magnet or magnetic pad.

Routing cables vertically along one side of a chassis can limit themounting options of the chassis to a single horizontal mountingorientation. When the length of a chassis to be mounted is greater thanthe opening width of the rack, frame, or cabinet into which it is to beinstalled, it might still be possible to mount the chassis vertically,avoiding the need to replace either the chassis or the object into whichit needs to fit. However, if cables are routed from a vertical bundlerunning along the side of the chassis, the cables terminating from somemodules further from the bundle may cover over modules closer to thebundle and thereby make it impossible to obtain access to the lattermodule without disconnecting cables terminating from other modules.

The above described example embodiments of the stackable cable trayaccording to the present invention are useful in various ways. As butone example, a chassis that includes a stackable cable tray which doesnot fit horizontally in a rack may be mounted vertically in the samerack while providing for cables to be routed between the rack supportsthrough the cable tray and then vertically to the termination locationin the chassis. Such cable routing will not interfere with access tocables connected to adjacent modules in the chassis. The cablemanagement feature is thus independent of the rack, frame, or cabinet towhich the chassis is mounted and the mounting orientation of thechassis.

Moreover, providing a cable management tray that is independent of therack, frame, or cabinet of the chassis, enables chassis and componentsdesigned to fit horizontally in one rack to be mounted vertically inanother rack. This can be especially useful in the electronics, and moreparticularly the telecommunication industry.

For example, in North America and Europe, telecommunication racks havinga nineteen (19) inch opening width are deployed. Also deployed in Europeare telecommunication racks having an opening width standardized by theEuropean Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Moreover,telecommunication racks having an opening width of twenty three inchesare deployed in North America. By attaching a stackable cable tray to achassis designed specifically for one of these geographical markets, thechassis can be mounted at least vertically in a different sized rackwhile retaining cable management that is independent of the rack. Thus,the use of the stackable cable tray promotes product standardization andits associated benefits, including reduced costs of design,manufacturing, distribution, technical support, training, and inventoryrequired for supporting multiple product families based on physicalhardware configuration. Other benefits also exist and would be readilyappreciated by one skilled in the art in view of this description.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withrespect to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

1. A cable tray comprising: a housing defining an interior portion, thehousing having at least one positioned opening formed therein and alsohaving plural, open ends in communication with the interior portion andthe at least one positioned opening for passage of at least one cabletherethrough, wherein the housing is adapted to be coupled to at leastone external surface, such that at least one of the plural, open endssubstantially aligns with at least one open end of a housing of at leastone further cable tray.
 2. to
 33. (canceled)